Originally Posted by: djberry1972

On the F Major chord variation, I'm confused with all the number 1's. I guess I haven't seen this before because I'm new. Can you place it on any of these to get the correct chord?

I'm also confused about why the lesson calls for this way of doing it..

On the F Major chart you are looking at where it has the 1s on strings 1, 2, and 6 - that means your first finger should be fretting all 3 of those strings -- it is a full barre chord.

The lesson in GF1 is really the same chord, but it doesn't use the notes on the 5th and 6th string. It is still an F major chord - it's an F when it has the notes F, A, and C. Add the low F and low C notes from 5th and 6th string and it's a little bit fuller sounding I guess. I wouldn't know from personal experience because I can't do it!

It's a really challenging chord for us beginners (indeed, it sends many running away from guitar forever). Most of us are simply not going to be physically capable of playing a full barre chord this early in the journey. The version Lisa is teaching where first finger frets strings 1 and 2 is a perfectly legitimate F chord, and still plenty hard. I think there is simply no really "easy" way on this one.

I'm nowhere near being able to use it in a song. I spend a few minutes working on it two or three times a week and any time I can make it ring clearly is a victory for me.